Stories from Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Otho Franklin "Frank" Kelley, 74, of Lepanto passed away May 19, 2023, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He was born Jan. 13, 1949, in Armorel to Ozell and Evelyn Herron Kelley, Sr. He was a retired farmer, a member of Harvest Fellowship Church of God in Manila and a resident of Mississippi County for 70 years. Mr. Kelley was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Gladys Kelley; four brothers, Jerry Kelley, Monty Kelley, Jimmy Kelley and Ozell Kelley, Jr...

Anthony “Tony” Lynn Deason, 53, of Manila, passed from this life Friday, May 19, 2023, at Ridgecrest Health and Rehabilitation in Jonesboro. Born in Osceola to the late Robert and Alberta Webb Deason, Tony had been a longtime Blytheville resident before making Manila his home in 2001. ...

Mary Francis Lavender born was born Jan. 11, 1944. She grew up in Blytheville on the corner of Elm Street. She was better known as Mae to her siblings and Mary Francis to everyone else. She moved to Chicago, Ill., at age 19 until she returned back to Blytheville in 1978. Early in life she accepted Christ. She attended Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, and she was a gifted singer, who loved singing for the Lord. She later Joined New Mount Olive and stayed a member until God called her home...

Ronald Eugene Mason, 72, of Jonesboro, passed from this life Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis, Tenn. Born in Blytheville to the late Curtis and Georgia Ralph Mason, Ronnie had been a longtime Gosnell resident before making Jonesboro his home in 1992. ...

Rickey Donald Ransom, 63, of West Memphis passed away May 12, 2023, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born Dec. 3, 1959, in Osceola, to Melvin and Jessie Rixter Ransom. He was a factory worker and a member of St. John Full Gospel in Osceola. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Janice Ransom...

A Blytheville man was killed on Sat., May 20, in the 1600 block of Stuart St. Police reported that upon arrival the shooting victim, Christopher Hogan, 34, was located and transported to Great River Medical Center. There, he later succumbed to the injuries. The Blytheville Police Department reported that the investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it is made available...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Although he won’t be physically in place day-to-day following his retirement, the effect of James Shemwell will always remain at Arkansas Northeastern College. And the college’s board of directors made sure that his legacy is remembered far beyond simple word of mouth. With Shemwell’s retirement celebration inside the Allied Tech building last Friday, board chairman Randy Scott unveiled one final ‘thank you’ to the outgoing president for his contributions...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Manila superintendent Jason Evers and school board members welcomed newly elected member, Jackie Hill, at the May 18 meeting. Hill won the May school board election and will fill the position of Danny Robbins who decided not to seek re-election...